Pack your bags Roy

[SB]

Odds on Hodgson becoming the next Premier League manager to be sacked tumbled from 5/1 to 6/5 in 24 hours after the Wednesday night defeat,

[SB]

On the door step not in the house

Golum ?

[Lecter]

All the papers with the same story so you can say that is more or less 100% official.

If Rijkaard was an option then he would already been appointed IMO. I think we can rule him out.

I doubt that Villas Boas or Klopp will break the new long term deals they signed.

Deschamps? Why would he leave Marseille? He clashed with the board so maybe they will let him go after they get knocked out of the CL. He is probably the most realistic option.

FSG need a manager that can attract the best players out there. That rules out the likes of Coyle.

I think that Deschamps is the number one target. Don't have a clue who could be second choice. Maybe Ancelotti. He would have no problem to work with a sporting director after his time in Italy. He is used to that.

So what about Rafa then? If he was a realistic option then FSG would already talked to him IMO and if they would have done that then it would have leaked out. He could be the backup option if Deschamps turns us down but he isn't a realistic first choice target.

The rumours going round are that Rafa has already spoken with FSG but not in regards to any position at the club

[Lecter]

direct fromthe Kings mouth

Not the greatest backing for Hodgson near enough saying give me a call after the Bolton game.


KENNY DALGLISH today spoke out amid the storm clouds gathering over Anfield and urged everyone to pull together to help Liverpool claim "three badly needed points" against Bolton this afternoon.

Reds legend Dalglish spoke out 48 hours after his name spilled from the Kop on Wednesday night during the defeat to Wolves, with thousands of angry supporters urging him to be installed as manager in place of under-fire boss Roy Hodgson.

Dalglish, currently employed as a club ambassador at Anfield, told the Echo: "Let’s just press the pause button and throw all our efforts and energies into one basket.

"Everyone – whether players, supporters, staff or whatever – has to throw everything towards the one aim and that is to get us three badly needed points from the game against Bolton today.

"Because if everyone sticks together we’ll have a better chance of getting those three points.

"Then if we want to have a discussion after that, we can.

"But the three points for the club is more important than any single person and how they feel.

"So let’s forget the issues today and concentrate on getting those three points."

Hodgson, who has now apologised to Liverpool supporters for any offence he unwittingly caused in his post match remarks on Wednesday night, has acknowledged that winning over the fans from the outset had been difficult given the affection they hold for Dalglish – who himself had hoped to be considered for the job himself after Rafa Benitez’s departure back in June.

Liverpool fans have several times this season chanted loudly for the 59-year-old Scot, who spent 14 years in total at Anfield winning six league titles, three European Cups and four League Cups as a player before guiding Liverpool as manager to three league titles, including a double in 1986.

He also won a fourth championship with Blackburn Rovers after re-entering the game following his shock departure from Anfield in 1991.

Dalglish, who was not present at Wednesday night’s game against Wolves, added: "It is about Liverpool Football Club right now – not about any individual person.

"If everybody does their job properly; if everybody sticks together; if the players excite the fans and the fans support the players and everyone is led in one direction, then we should get the result today.

"But without everybody being on the same page, it will make it a bit more difficult."

[badpiggy]

There's not a crumb of support for Hodgson in anything Kenny says - the fact he doesn't even mention him speaks volumes Totally dead man walking

[Arn]

The rumours going round are that Rafa has already spoken with FSG but not in regards to any position at the club

Must been about the type of players the squad need then. That is something Comolli need to know. Every little piece of info helps. Rafa know the squad better than anyone else.

Roy clearly won't have any say who we sell and sign.

[pezzzer]

Finally, we're getting somewhere. No 'maybe' about it, 'hate' was emphatically the wrong word.

"Take it the wrong way" - I take it according to the words you use, if you cant use the right word, i cant mind-read what you actually (allegedly) meant.

If i'm so boring, quit e-stalking me.

the words BIGGEST CRITIC were spot on though wouldnt you agree?

stalking you id have to spend every waking moment on here posting to everything like you do, err no thanks, i just get pissed off when you were HIS BIGGEST CRITIC and now you want him back, fair enough to change your mind but dont knock people like arn for there views and how they voice them

[Lecter]

Anfield owners ready to ditch Hodgson for 'the right man'

Fans dispute seals manager's fate but lack of an ideal candidate could delay his exit

By Ian Herbert, Deputy Football Correspondent

Liverpool's owners have concluded that Roy Hodgson is not the manager to take Liverpool forward in the long term and are ready to replace him in mid-season if the right candidate becomes available.

The club's principal owner John W Henry and his Fenway Sports Group are examining the situation closely, with the wedge that Wednesday's defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers drove between Hodgson and the fans a factor in their willingness to replace the 63-year-old now, rather than allow him to marshal the club through to the end of the season. Hodgson cut a lonely and wounded individual yesterday at a press conference which had a valedictory air about it and he expressed "regret" if he had "offended in any way" fans who took against his suggestion after the Wolves defeat that the "famous Anfield support" had never been there for him.

It is unclear what the response of the fans will be for the challenging home match with Bolton today, though Hodgson's midweek comments, taken with a feeling that the club's tactical and physical readiness for matches is not improving, appears to have sealed his fate already.

With Henry seemingly having no appetite for a caretaker – confirming the impressions of Kenny Dalglish, who would be willing to become that individual – the lack of immediately available prospective replacements may mean Hodgson ploughing on until the summer. Among the ranks of young managers Henry favours appointing – replicating the decision to hire Theo Epstein with such prodigious results at his Boston Red Sox – only Frank Rijkaard, the former Barcelona coach, is not under contract and the 48-year-old may not be the ideal candidate. Marseilles' Didier Deschamps – approached by Liverpool last summer – Porto's Andre Villas Boas, Borussia Dortmund's Jürgen Klopp or even Bolton's Owen Coyle are younger individuals whom Henry may prefer.

Hodgson, last season's manager of the year, is not alone in his state of uncertainty. West Ham's Avram Grant – whose side today host the Wolves side which vanquished Liverpool – Aston Villa's Gérard Houllier, whose club's tough run continues tomorrow at Chelsea, and Fulham's Mark Hughes - away today to thriving Spurs – also have reason to fear for their futures. It was Mr. Ferguson who observed in the process of discussing his son Darren's dismissal at Preston yesterday, that Christmas is the sacking period for managers. But few managers will feel the sting of dismissal more than Hodgson, who had the courage to turn up and eloquently address the barbed, ironic chants of "Hodgson for England" from fans on Wednesday night and has been damned for it.

"I have been very disappointed and very hurt, in particular by comments I made that I thought were mere statements of fact and which were in no way meant to be offensive," said Hodgson, who has had no contact with his owners since Wednesday. "Funnily enough, I thought I had done a good job in disguising the hurt, the sadness and to some extent, the anger – not only to take the stick from the crowd but to stand up in front of a press conference and say I understood and sympathised with them. It is always going to be the case when things are going wrong you are going to get that type of flak. It was unfortunate for me that this has been turned around and fans have been made to think that I went into a press conference with a view to attacking them because nothing could be further from the truth. I think you all know that."

Hodgson's bewilderment has been compounded by the fact that the Liverpool situation has turned so rapidly. There have been only two bad defeats and two cancelled matches since the halcyon days of early winter, when Chelsea were beaten, with Villa and West Ham pummelled. Even Ferguson reflected, with good reason, yesterday that the quality of a Wolves side which so nearly beat United had been overlooked in the attacks on Hodgson. It is a sentiment the 63-year-old shares.

"It is a strange situation isn't it?" the Liverpool manager added. "A few weeks ago when we were on a good roll and playing good football, everything looked bright and positive. The performance against Tottenham [Liverpool were excellent despite a 2-1 defeat] encouraged people to some extent but now has become just another defeat. The last two defeats have hurt us very badly and hurt me very badly because we haven't played anywhere near our potential. We played badly.

"It has swung things around enormously and put us in this situation where we find ourselves today. I can't do more than emphasise that it hurts me deeply. It hurts my professional pride. It hurts all the things I believe in to find myself in the situation I am in but I have to accept I am in it. In answer to the question of how I am feeling – very bad, very down."

Even Hodgson's experience of football battles past did not seem to offer him succour yesterday. "Nothing really compares to the last game of the [2007/08] season at Fulham and having to win at Portsmouth to stay in the League. Getting relegated from the Premier League for a team like Fulham is something everyone dreads. It has been an uphill struggle since I came here [though] and maybe that was the point I was trying to make. I accept [setbacks are] part of being a big club and accept it as part of taking on a job of this stature. I saw a quote from Benjamin Disraeli when he got the job as prime minister. I have achieved my goal and 'climbed to the top of a greasy pole' and that's really what we do. That is how I feel, coming to Liverpool for me was a pinnacle. And then you come here hoping you keep flying forward. I did know it would be difficult.

"[This] is a time when you are going to be very hurt and upset about everything. Lonely is not the wrong word to use because to be quite honest you don't want company anyway. You want to be left alone with your thoughts which are not pleasant thoughts."

These are extracts from another immeasurably eloquent press conference which was not all doom and gloom. "[Manager of the year] seems a long time ago doesn't it," he concluded. "I hope I can do it again in 2011. Let's end on that positive note. I'll work for that."

But this sounded like an exercise in self-motivation. The die is already cast. That career pinnacle will be a painfully brief one.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/footb....n-2 173188.html

[Lecter]

Liverpool's owners seek replacement for Roy HodgsonAs the manager expressed his hurt and loneliness in the club's predicament his masters were searching for a successor


Share Tim Rich guardian.co.uk, Saturday 1 January 2011 00.43 GMT Article history
The Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson, says it has been an 'uphill struggle' at Anfield. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Roy Hodgson became manager of Liverpool 183 days ago. On the day he got the job he said: 'I always knew Liverpool fans were special. The motto "You'll never walk alone" is really lived by the fans. It's a club where you feel you're not alone.' Today those words came back to haunt him.


Roy Hodgson's days at Liverpool appear to be numbered after it emerged last night the club's American owners are ready to replace him midway through the season, if the right candidate becomes available.

As the manager made an emotional plea to fans to get behind him and apologised for his perceived criticism of them after Wednesday's defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fenway Sports Group, which bought the club in October, had reportedly decided to start looking for his successor after six months at the helm. The former Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard has been linked with the job, as have Didier Deschamps, Porto's André Villas Boas and Bolton's Owen Coyle.

While one poll suggested that more than nine in 10 Liverpool fans wanted Hodgson sacked, the manager yesterday gave vent to his feelings.

"After the defeat by Wolves I thought I did quite a good job to disguise the hurt, the sadness and, to some extent, the anger that I was feeling. To take stick from the crowd and then to stand up in a press conference and say I understood and sympathised with them ... It is always going to be the case as a manager that when things are going wrong you are going to get that flak, that stick. It is unfortunate for me that fans should think I went into a press conference with a view to attacking them because nothing could be further from the truth.

"Two or three weeks ago we were on a good roll and playing some good football and everything looked so bright and positive. A very good performance at Tottenham, which should have encouraged people, has now become just another defeat. Then we had the last two defeats, against Newcastle and Wolves, which have hurt us very badly and hurt me very badly. It has swung things round enormously and put us in the situation where we find ourselves today. I cannot emphasise enough that it hurts me deeply. It hurts my professional pride. It hurts all the things I believe in to find myself in the situation I am in but I have to accept it. I feel very bad and very down.

"I have the experience but it has been an uphill struggle since I came here. Maybe that was the point I was trying to make [about the famous Anfield support] which has been interpreted as a crack against the fans. I have had a lot of situations to deal with and worked very hard to put together a team that knows what it is doing and can produce winning football. Along the way there have been some very big setbacks which have thrown me into the limelight and the firing line. I accept it as part of taking a job of this stature.

"Last night I saw a quote from Benjamin Disraeli when he became prime minster: 'I have achieved my goal and climbed to the top of the greasy pole.' That is really what we do. That is how I feel. Coming to Liverpool for me was a pinnacle; to some extent it was a reward for the work I had put in, not just at Fulham but in the years before. It was a recognition of my competence. You come here hoping you will keep flying forward but, yes, I did know it would be difficult. If we can between now and the end of the season get the results everybody wants, people will respect us more for the hardship we have gone through. It is a cliché but we coaches do need time, patience and support. Support at this club is of vital importance because that is what has made it great through the years – the feeling that Liverpool is a bit special and that people get together when things are not going well.

"It would be nice to have people around you who could help you a bit more but it doesn't really work that way. It is a lonely job being the manager of a top club. You can't expect people to help you too much. The staff are very good and supportive – and so too are the players – but your family is the most important during these times. They try to encourage you that life isn't all doom and gloom and there might be a bright spot somewhere along the way. That is what you have to cling on to.

"Two defeats in a row – and one of them at home against a team you are expected to beat – that is a time when you are going to be very hurt and upset about everything. Lonely is not the wrong word to use because, to be quite honest, you don't want company anyway. You want to be left alone with your thoughts. They are not pleasant thoughts but you don't have the desire to do anything other than sit around with them."

[wavydavy]

"It would be nice to have people around you who could help you a bit more but it doesn't really work that way. It is a lonely job being the manager of a top club. You can't expect people to help you too much. The staff are very good and supportive – and so too are the players – but your family is the most important during these times. They try to encourage you that life isn't all doom and gloom and there might be a bright spot somewhere along the way. That is what you have to cling on to.

"Two defeats in a row – and one of them at home against a team you are expected to beat – that is a time when you are going to be very hurt and upset about everything. Lonely is not the wrong word to use because, to be quite honest, you don't want company anyway. You want to be left alone with your thoughts. They are not pleasant thoughts but you don't have the desire to do anything other than sit around with them."


From his own mouth. He's admitting he didn't expect to beat Newcastle. This is not talk befitting a Liverpool manager

[Rowan]

Dowie is a total cretin. Walsh is letting him have it here.

[Rowan]

'it's like him taking Matt, sticking him on the left wing and saying "you don't move from there"'

What Walsh just said to Dowie about how Le Tiss might fit into Roy's system with us.

[wavydavy]

Dowie is a total cretin. Walsh is letting him have it here.

On Sky?

[McDermotX]

Walsh says he spend 11m on midfield creativity with Poulsen and Raul (actually closer to 15+m, but even so)...............Cottee for some reason chips in with "thats nothing to what Benitez spent"

How is that even relevant to the point being made ????

[peekay]

"It would be nice to have people around you who could help you a bit more but it doesn't really work that way. It is a lonely job being the manager of a top club. You can't expect people to help you too much. The staff are very good and supportive – and so too are the players – but your family is the most important during these times. They try to encourage you that life isn't all doom and gloom and there might be a bright spot somewhere along the way. That is what you have to cling on to.

From his own mouth. He's admitting he didn't expect to beat Newcastle. This is not talk befitting a Liverpool manager

His pre-match dressing room talk must be quite inspiring.